DEFENSE FOR #5 CSM STYMIES 4th RANKED BUTTE, 10-7; NO. 1 MODESTO UP NEXT

With the defense holding firm, all it took was a 49-yard field goal by Logan Calder with 6:53 left to play for state No. 5 ranked College of San Mateo to wrap-up a 10-7 victory at previously unbeaten No. 4 Butte College in Oroville Saturday afternoon.

The CSM defense, which led the state last season, did not give up any points. The only Butte score came on a 27-yard fumble return off the Bulldogs offense by Javin Hudson at the start of the fourth quarter. That tied the contest and set-up late game dramatics. (It was the game's only turnover.)

And reigning state champion CSM (2-1) was determined not to go into extra periods again after last week's controversial 4-overtime loss to Sierra College.

"Our defensive staff did an outstanding job, holding a team the caliber of Butte to zero points (on offense)" said CSM head coach Tim Tulloch. "Our defensive line did a good job controlling the line of scrimmage."

San Mateo scored early, on its second drive – with a 6-yard Austin Rovig pass to Javin Hudson completing a 91 yard drive in 16 plays.

It was a defensive struggle after that. The CSM defense stepped  up to stop Roadrunners drives in Bulldogs territory. That included an ensuring 53-yard march to the San Mateo 30, where Butte turned the ball over on downs.

At the end of the third quarter. The Roadrunners, however, forced a CSM fumble on a rushing play that Hudson picked up and scampered the 27 yards for the tying score.

CSM had a pair of ensuing drives into Butte territory, while holding the Roadrunners to just a single first down in the final period.

The winning drive followed a 35-yard Butte punt that set up the Bulldogs at the 50. San Mateo drove to the Butte 32, where Calder split the uprights with his 49-yard winning kick on fourth down.

The San Mateo defense was challenged a bit later after the Bulldogs ran time off the clock.  A 36 yard runback of a CSM punt by Ojani Gray, however, gave the Roadrunners an opportunity on the CSM33 with 2:55 to play.

Butte could only get to the CSM 24, where quarterback Azari Cruz was sacked by defensive lineman Sione Fanaika on fourth down.

Rovig completed 17 of 29 passes for 123 yards with no picks. Jalen Arnold and Riley Long each had four receptions.

"It was only his third college start," said Tulloch about his freshman quarterback. "He has been getting better every week."

Dominick Gonzalez was the rushing workhorse, with 59 yards on 20 carries, while Nano Latu had 47 yards on eight trips.

On defense, Danny Niu had eight tackles and Veni Wolfgramm had seven, plus a forced fumble. Jojo Latu had seven tackles (six solo).

The teams were fairly even in total offense yards, 240 by CSM and 223 by Butte.

San Mateo returns home Saturday (Sept. 19) for another non-conference game against century-old rival Modesto JC (2-1). The Pirates were ranked No. 1 in the state but lost on Saturday to Diablo Valley, 31-24. CSM plays DVC (3-0) on Sept. 26.

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  --Fred Baer, CSM Athletic Communications